Well, I dont want to stir your longing for the coming weekend but I should warn you: under no circumstance listen to the following songs when you’re on your job. You’d risk a letter of resignation or even worse the bankruptcy of your entreprise. That is the case already? Go ahead and risk the poetry and the spellbinding melodies of this 30 year old Englishman: Will Cookson. Not too unseasoned, not too smoked, just what’s needed to create a vintage.
Totally absorbed in interviewing M. Brownrigg, Trini forgot to provide us some all-important information concerning the inescapable Bon Iver. Some extra tour dates in Europe accompanied by the talented Sarah Siskind, as well as a video available on YouTube, are sufficient matter to add another layer.
But it would be quite arrogant to mention this in passing and to not go into Ms Siskind’s universe a little more. Chiefly because we count among the fans of this songwriter from North Carolina some big names like Alison Krauss, Ron Sexsmith and Peter Bradley Adams…
“Sarah Siskind’s music is not easily explained or contained. She’s a singer and songwriter based in Nashville and grounded in Appalachian roots, but one who transcends category with a beguiling fusion of the traditional and the modern. Whether solo, fronting an electric band or in her harmony-laden side project Old Black Kettle, Sarah creates emotionally charged soundscapes that consistently delight and surprise even her long-time fans.”
Four albums to her credit, of which the first one was recorded at age 14, Sarah announced by the end of Summer, the forthcoming release of her next cd, still is in its mastering phase. So, you will have understood I had to be satisfied with the digital version of her latest double EP : ‘Studio . Living Room’. But what a satisfaction indeed!
If the original ‘Lovin’s For Fools’ version is of a rare beauty ; both Studio songs and Living Room ones deserved your full attention. Thinking Christmas !
“Music with spirit. Music akin to roots, folk, blues, and country, Don Brownrigg is a musician’s musician…”
I’d like to take credit for finding this little gem but it was my lovely friend Chad from Canada that sent me this album along with a few others several weeks ago. We both have a love for music and more so a love of finding new talent that we can share with each other. I had Don’s album on my list of “albums to review” and never got around to it. I could kick myself now for not pushing play any sooner. This album is absolutely beautiful. It is a perfect melting pot of folk, blues, and country. He has a voice that stays with you long after the last tune has been sung. Needless to say he had me at the first chord. Thanks Chad and thank you Don for taking the time to do this little interview with us. I asked Don what song he would like for us to share with everyone and he said for me to choose…..ah the daunting task…they are all so good and I have my favorites but don’t just take my word for it, buy the album. (I’m having trouble uploading a song, will post it up later)
YCD: I was reading in your bio a quote that you are “inspired by people and natural things” and that you feel you are “living a generation or two too late”, is that still how you feel today?
Don: Yep, probably even more so! I’ve met a lot more people and have seen a lot more places since that first interview. I like the intimacy of simplicity.
YCD: Do you write your own music? What inspired the song “About Her”? When I first heard this song my heart skipped a beat. I wondered if anyone would ever feel this way about me. It’s truly a beautiful song.
Don: Thanks!
Yes, I write my own music. ‘About Her’ is an old song of mine. It was one of those songs that ‘wrote itself’. It just uses simple phrasing and chord progressions - but that’s all you need to get the right point across - if you are conveying the right mood and saying the right words. The song has connected with a few people on a different level and for that I’m very fortunate.
YCD: I always tell people I have an “A” job and a “Dream” life. Sometimes I feel that we are all in search of that thing that truly makes us happy and fulfilled. Would you say that music is your “dream” life? If you weren’t a song writer what would you be doing now?
Don: I am living my dream as my career. In a lot of ways, it is work and a job like any other - but there is not enough time in the day when you live your career. I’ve worked lots of jobs but that’s behind now. I’m lucky that I’ve discovered this thing that I can put all of my energy into and I can’t wait to wake up in the morning to work on it. I’d like for everyone to find that thing in their life. It’s tough. Discovery of that one thing in your life means you must take risks and just go for some things….step into the uncomfortable and un-ordinary, something you want to try, something different you need to do, etc. I hope more people do that. If I weren’t a song writer, I’d probably be something really practical, like a chiropractor or a carpenter.
YCD: What songs are you inspired by or cannot live without at the moment, yours or someone else’s?
Don: I am living in a city (Halifax) that’s known throughout the country as being a musical hotbed. I’m fortunate enough to be a part of this thriving community and I am inspired by the talent, vigor, and hard work of the musicians here. I’ve gotten to work on albums by Benn Ross, Rich Aucoin, Jesse Dangerously, Caledonia, and Tanya Davis. Each one of those acts aren’t anything like each other and aren’t similar to my music and that’s what makes this community beautiful and healthy. The support system rather than any sort of competition in independent music allows a person to be so comfortable in what they’re doing because they have such a support system in their colleagues - we know we have our friends there to help out in any way, be it professionally or personally.
YCD: Who has been the biggest influence in your musical career?
Don: Tough question. I’ve always been a very practical person so when I was getting more and more serious about music as a career, my parents could have been more weary but they weren’t at all. They urged me to follow through with this music thing - to do what I wanted - to work hard - to see how it goes, at least. In the early stages, I wasn’t really telling people who knew me that I was playing music, that it was my dream, that I needed it. Their support from the get-go meant a lot.
Also, a little dark and morbid as it may seem. I’ve had a few people in my life die well before their supposed ‘time’. Also, I’ve never thought I was to live very long and I’ve always had this dream to make music. So I guess having those people’s time end so quickly propelled me in a certain way. Make my time count for me, ‘go for it’, why not?
YCD: With all the changes and uncertainties going on in the music industry today, what inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing and why?
Don: I’m not sure. It is tough and a struggle in a lot of ways. Songwriters love and need the drama, don’t we? Like I mentioned earlier, if you’re living your dream as your career, a lot of the tough times can be absorbed easily. There are incredible highs and stifling lows. Each step is uncertain but once you’re confident the music you’re making is establishing a connection, it is worth it. The community of professional musicians I’ve surrounded myself with inspire me to continue. Fans inspire me to continue.
YCD: Wander Songs was released in 2007, is there anything new you are working on now?
Don: Yep, I’m still writing for another short while. In early 2009, I’ll start organizing for recording again. It’s a big process but I’m soon ready again. For now, I’m glad to be jumping in on other acts’ recording projects and shows when I can. I started off as a side-guy so I still have that. I also love to sing back-up and I’m doing more and more of that, on a more behind the scenes/supportive level. I need to support those people as they are supporting me.
YCD: For those readers who haven’t heard of you or your music before what would best describe your music?
Don: Organic, low-key, and created by one young unconfident fellow with a few good friends.
YCD: Thank you for your time. We are looking forward to sharing your music with everyone. I love your album it has such a timeless feel to it. I’m sure it will quickly become a favorite of our readers.
Of all the available ways of expressing ourselves, Colby Stead singled out nakedness. His songs are barely dressed, merely a few guitar notes. At times they are warmed up by a female echo, sometimes by a moving cello or the breath of an accordion. In this way, he serves up an appetizing variety of ‘crudités’ for curious minds.
Today, by creating Mytunes, M. Stead offers us the possibility to crunch the apple once again: a collection of songs and spoken word you can download for ‘What’s it worth’.
Among these gems we discover his two latest albums ‘No’ and ‘So it goes’ in full, a set of home recordings, concerts and readings and others unreleased pearls like this one :
Hello all you Crazy Dreamers….haven’t posted in a while as I am pretty much married to my job lately but I have not forgotten about my music buddies here on YCD!! Thought I’d pop my head in and say a few words.
My dream of seeing Jason Molina live was realized last Monday as I got to see Magnolia Electric Co. at the Abbey Pub here in Chicago. I pretty much think Molina is a genius so I was super excited for this show and MECO did not let me down. I was almost in tears when they played “In The Human World” as that is my #1 played song in my iTunes and favorite Mag Elec. song ever. This show will definitely go down as the best I’ve seen all year.
For those of you not familiar with Molina, he recorded under Songs:Ohia with a rotating cast of musicians until 2003 in which he announced on tour the name change to Magnolia Electric Co. You can find his discography here.
Set list:
London Bridge*
Love Letter from the Ace of Spades*
In The Human World
Rock of Ages*
Shiloh Temple Bell
The Farewell Transmission
Oh Grace*
Josephine*
Talk To Me Devil, Again
Thank You’s / Crowd
Whip-poor-wil
Blackbird
I’ve Been Riding With The Ghost
John Henry Split My Heart
Impossible to remember the reason why my browser landed on the the home page of Matt Kanelos. Actually, it doesn’t matter. I know now why I keep on returning to it: the piano, a strong sense of melody, an undescribable atmosphere which titillates the imagination, opening the door to fabulous mind blowers.
‘When You Walk It Makes No Sound‘, was the first track I had the opportunity to listen. A delicious suspension, scrolling a full year in a short 5 minutes composition : absolutely gorgeous. It was enough for me already to get addicted. It reminds me of one of those sweet Paolo Conte favourites of mine, floating between folk & jazz. A captivating melody that could simply convert a raging bull into a sweet ballerina…
Then was the time for a second track from this unreleased opus : ‘Peacock Dance‘. It starts like what could have been a Bach Piano partition - or a Chopin Etude - , but then Matt’s sweet voice comes to the front: “We’ll stop in Babylon…” : Absolutely stunning ! And so it goes on for the next song ‘Dying Star’
It took only a couple of minutes to download his first EP ‘Children Love to Dance’ at cdbaby.com, which was already released in 2005, but the time it will take to be sated by this very short collection seems infinite. Time appears to be standing still in the musical universe created by Matt Kanelos. So, if we need to wait untill next February for his new opus to be released… there’s no hurry really.
All audio posted on this site is meant for sampling purposes only. If you really like what you hear, show it and support the artist - buy an album, buy some merch, got to a show. If you represent or own any media on this site and would like something taken down please email us, and we will take the necessary action of removing the file(s).
“Music with spirit. Music akin to roots, folk, blues, and country, 
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